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Abstract:

An information processing system includes a main body that executes a
plurality of functions; and an operation unit including a display unit to
display a screen. The system also includes a first display controller
that arranges, for each of the functions, a first display component in a
home screen corresponding to the screen displayed on the display unit
immediately after activation, the first display component being used to
instruct an execution command for the each of the functions; and an
execution controller that controls, when the first display component is
pressed, the main body to perform a function corresponding to the pressed
first display component.

Claims:

1. An information processing system comprising: a main body that executes
a plurality of functions; an operation unit including a display unit to
display a screen; a first display controller that arranges, for each of
the functions, a first display component in a home screen corresponding
to the screen displayed on the display unit immediately after activation,
the first display component being used to instruct an execution command
for the each of the functions; and an execution controller that controls,
when the first display component is pressed, the main body to perform a
function corresponding to the pressed first display component.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the
main body is operated by a first operating system, and the operation unit
is operated by a second operating system different from the first
operating system.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the
first display controller arranges, for each of the functions, a third
display component in the home screen, the third display component
including the first display component and a second display component
corresponding to a setting value of the each of the functions.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3, further
comprising a second display controller that displays, when the second
display component is pressed, a setting screen corresponding to the
pressed second display component on the display unit.

5. An information processing apparatus that functions as an operation
unit of a device in which a plurality of functions is executable, the
information processing apparatus comprising: a first display controller
that arranges, for each of the functions, a first display component in a
home screen corresponding to the screen displayed on the display unit
immediately after activation, the first display component being used to
instruct an execution command for the each of the functions; and an
execution controller that controls, when the first display component is
pressed, the main body to perform a function corresponding to the pressed
first display component.

6. An information processing method comprising: arranging, for each of a
plurality of functions, a first display component in a home screen
corresponding to the screen displayed on the display unit immediately
after activation, the first display component being used to instruct an
execution command for the each of the functions; and controlling, when
the first display component is pressed, a device to perform a function
corresponding to the pressed first display component.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable
program stored thereon and executed by a computer, wherein the program
instructs the computer to perform the information processing method
according to claim 6.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to and incorporates by
reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No.
2013-188669 filed in Japan on Sep. 11, 2013 and Japanese Patent
Application No. 2014-166935 filed in Japan on Aug. 19, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an information processing system,
an information processing apparatus, an information processing method,
and a computer-readable storage medium.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Conventionally, there is known a technology of displaying a display
component (UI component) to instruct an execution command of a function
which can be provided by an application installed in a device. For
example, there is known a technology in which, when a user selects one of
a plurality of icons disposed on a home screen, the display is switched
to an initial screen of an application corresponding to the selected icon
and a start button to instruct the execution command of the function
provided by the application is displayed on the initial screen.

[0006] However, in the technology of the related art, in a case where the
user instructs the execution of the function which can be provided by the
application, the user first selects an icon corresponding to the
application on the home screen, and then the display is switched to the
initial screen corresponding to the application. Thereafter, the start
button displayed on the initial screen is necessarily pressed to make an
operation. Therefore, there is a problem in that operational efficiency
for the user is degraded.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to provide an information processing
system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing
method, and a computer-readable storage medium through which operational
efficiency can be improved when the user instructs the execution of a
function realizable in a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to at least partially
solve the problems in the conventional technology.

[0009] According to an embodiment, there is provided an information
processing system that includes a main body that executes a plurality of
functions; an operation unit including a display unit to display a
screen; a first display controller that arranges, for each of the
functions, a first display component in a home screen corresponding to
the screen displayed on the display unit immediately after activation,
the first display component being used to instruct an execution command
for the each of the functions; and an execution controller that controls,
when the first display component is pressed, the main body to perform a
function corresponding to the pressed first display component.

[0010] According to another embodiment, there is provided an information
processing apparatus that functions as an operation unit of a device in
which a plurality of functions is executable. The information processing
apparatus includes a first display controller that arranges, for each of
the functions, a first display component in a home screen corresponding
to the screen displayed on the display unit immediately after activation,
the first display component being used to instruct an execution command
for the each of the functions; and an execution controller that controls,
when the first display component is pressed, the main body to perform a
function corresponding to the pressed first display component.

[0011] According to still another embodiment, there is provided an
information processing method that includes arranging, for each of a
plurality of functions, a first display component in a home screen
corresponding to the screen displayed on the display unit immediately
after activation, the first display component being used to instruct an
execution command for the each of the functions; and controlling, when
the first display component is pressed, a device to perform a function
corresponding to the pressed first display component.

[0012] According to still another embodiment, there is provided a
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable
program stored thereon and executed by a computer. The program instructs
the computer to perform the information processing method according to
the above embodiment.

[0013] The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and
industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by
reading the following detailed description of presently preferred
embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware
configuration of an MFP according to an embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a software
configuration of the MFP;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional
configuration of an operation unit;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting widget
which is displayed in a home screen;

[0018] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the setting widget;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting widget
according to a modified example;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color setting
screen;

[0021] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tray setting
screen;

[0022] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy number
setting screen;

[0023] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen
for other setting items;

[0024] FIG. 11 is a timing chart illustrating an operation example of the
MFP until a copy operation is started after a start button disposed in
the setting widget corresponding to a copy application is pressed;

[0025] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen
corresponding to the copy application; and

[0026] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary display of the
setting widget according to a modified example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] An information processing system, an information processing
apparatus, an information processing method, and a computer-readable
storage medium according to the invention will be described in detail
below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, a
multifunction peripheral (MFP) will be given as an example of the
information processing system. In addition, the MFP is an apparatus
having at least two of a printer function, a copy function, a scanner
function, and a facsimile function.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an MFP
1 according to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the MFP 1
includes a main body 10 which is configured to realize various types of
functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a facsimile
function, and a printer function, and an operation unit 20 which receives
an input according to an operation of an operator. The main body 10 and
the operation unit 20 are connected to make communication with each other
through a dedicated communication channel 39. The communication channel
39, for example, can employ a universal serial bus (USB) standard, but
any standard may be employed regardless of a wired or wireless manner.

[0029] In addition, the main body 10 can make an operation according to
the input received by the operation unit 20. Further, the main body 10
can make communication with even an external apparatus such as a client
PC (Personal Computer), and can make an operation according to an
instruction received from the external apparatus.

[0030] The main body 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk
drive (HDD) 14, a communication interface (I/F) 15, a connection I/F 16,
and an engine unit 17, all of which are connected to each other through a
system bus 18. The CPU is an abbreviation for "Central Processing Unit".
The ROM is an abbreviation for "Read Only Memory". The RAM is an
abbreviation for "Random Access Memory".

[0031] In the ROM 12, a copy application program (hereinafter, simply
referred to as a copy application) and a scanner application program
(hereinafter, simply referred to as a scanner application) are stored
besides an OS (Operating System) program. Further, in the ROM 12, a
facsimile application program (hereinafter, simply referred to as a
facsimile application) and a printer application program (hereinafter,
simply referred to as a printer application) are stored. Furthermore,
various types of programs are stored in the ROM 12. In addition, the
description is made such that the above-mentioned various types of
programs are stored in the ROM 12, but these programs may be stored in
the HDD 14.

[0032] The CPU 11 integrally controls the operations of the main body 10.
The CPU 11 executes the programs stored in the ROM 12 or the HDD 14 using
the RAM 13 as a work area to control the entire operations of the main
body 10, and the above-mentioned various types of functions such as the
copy function, the scanner function, the facsimile function, and the
printer function are realized.

[0033] The communication I/F 15 is an interface to communicate with the
external apparatus such as the client PC (Personal Computer). The
connection I/F 16 is an interface to communicate with the operation unit
20 through the communication channel 39.

[0034] The engine unit 17 is configured in hardware for processes other
than a general-purpose information processing and communication in order
to realize the copy function, the scanner function, the facsimile
function, and the printer function. For example, a scanner (image reading
unit) which scans and reads an image on a document, a plotter (image
forming unit) which performs a printing operation on a sheet material
such as paper, and a facsimile unit which performs a facsimile
communication. Further, specific options such as a finisher which
classifies the printed sheet materials or an auto document feeder (ADF)
which automatically feeds the document may be provided.

[0035] Next, the operation unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23,
a flash memory 24, a communication I/F 25, a connection I/F 26, and an
operating panel 27, all of which are connected to each other through a
system bus 28.

[0036] The operation unit 20 makes communication with the main body 10 to
perform information processing while maintaining cooperation with the
main body 10. Therefore, the operation unit 20 is configured to include
an OS (Operating System) program in the ROM 22 in order to perform the
information processing independently of the main body 10. Further,
similarly to the ROM 12 of the main body 10, the copy application, the
scanner application, the facsimile application, and the printer
application are stored in the ROM 22.

[0037] Further, the ROM 22 of the operation unit 20 stores a setting
widget program (SWP) to display a widget on a home screen (a screen
corresponding to a so-called disk top screen) of the MFP 1 displayed on
the operating panel 27. For example, the SWP is a program to display a
setting widget on the home screen. The setting widget, which may be
referred to as "a third display component", includes a setting button,
which may be referred to as "a second display component", corresponding
to current setting values of various types of functions such as the copy
function or the printer function, and a start button, which may be
referred to as "a first display component", to instruct various types of
functions to start. The details will be described below. In addition, the
home screen is a screen which is displayed immediately after the MFP 1 is
powered up and serves as a basic body of all operations (base point).

[0038] The CPU 21 integrally controls the operations of the operation unit
20. The CPU 21 executes a program stored in the ROM 22 or the flash
memory 24 or the like using the RAM 23 as a work area. Therefore, the CPU
21 controls the entire operations of the operation unit 20, and realizes
various types of functions to be described below such as displaying of
information (image) according to an input from a user.

[0039] The communication I/F 25 is an interface to communicate with a
server apparatus for example through a network such as the Internet or a
local area network (LAN). The connection I/F 26 is an interface to
communicate with the main body 10 through the communication channel 39.

[0040] The operating panel 27 is a so-called touch panel which is
integrally formed with a touch detector made of a transparent electrode
and a liquid crystal display unit. The operating panel 27 receives
various inputs from a touch operation of the operator, and displays
various types of information (for example, information according to the
received input, information indicating an operation state of the MFP 1,
information indicating a setting state, and the like). In addition, the
operating panel 27 has been described to include the touch detector and
the liquid crystal display unit, but the invention is not limited
thereto. For example, an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display unit
may be used instead of the liquid crystal display unit.

[0041] The operation unit 20 which includes the operating panel 27 may be
a portable terminal apparatus such as a tablet terminal or a smart phone.
In this case, the operation unit 20 is provided with a wireless
communication function. Further, the operation unit 20 is detachably
provided in the main body 10. Then, when being attached to the main body
10, the operation unit 20 makes a wired communication with the main body
10 through the respective connection I/Fs 16 and 26. Further, when being
detached from the main body 10, the operation unit 20 makes communication
with the main body 10 by the wireless communication function.

[0042] Next, a software configuration of the MFP 1 will be described. FIG.
2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the software
configuration of the MFP 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the main body 10
includes an application layer 31, a service layer 32, and an OS layer 33.
The entities of the application layer 31, the service layer 32, and the
OS layer 33 are various types of software stored in the ROM 12 (or the
HDD 14). Various types of functions are provided when the CPU 11 executes
these types of software.

[0043] The software of the application layer 31 is an application to
provide a predetermined function by operating a hardware resource.
Examples of the application include the copy application to provide the
copy function, the scanner application to provide the scanner function,
the facsimile application to provide the facsimile function, and the
printer application to provide the printer function.

[0044] The software of the service layer 32 is software for providing an
interface which is interposed between the application layer 31 and the OS
layer 33 to use the hardware resource included in the main body 10 for
the AP. More specifically, the software of the service layer 32 is
software for providing a function of receiving an operation request for
the hardware resource and of adjusting the operation request. For
example, the operation request received by the service layer 32 is a
request for a reading operation by the scanner or a printing operation by
the printer.

[0045] In addition, an interface function of the service layer 32 is
provided also to an application layer 35 of the operation unit 20 as well
as the application layer 31 of the main body 10. In other words, the
application layer 35 of the operation unit 20 can also realize a function
which uses the hardware resource (for example, the engine unit 17) of the
main body 10 through an interface function of the service layer 32.

[0046] The software of the OS layer 33 is basic software (operating
system) for providing a basic function of controlling hardware included
in the main body 10. The software of the service layer 32 converts a
request from various types of application s for using the hardware
resource into a command which can be interpreted by the OS layer 33, and
transfers the command to the OS layer 33. Then, the command is performed
by the software of the OS layer 33, so that the hardware resource is
performed according to the request from the application.

[0047] Similarly, the operation unit 20 includes the application layer 35,
a service layer 36, and an OS layer 37. The application layer 35, the
service layer 36, and the OS layer 37 included in the operation unit 20
have also the same hierarchical structure as that of the main body 10. In
addition, the function provided by the application of the application
layer 35 and the types of operation requests which can be received by the
service layer 36 are different from those of the main body 10. The
application of the application layer 35 may be software which operates
the hardware resource included in the operation unit 20 to provide a
predetermined function, and generally includes software for providing a
function of user interface (UI) through which the functions (the copy
function, the scanner function, the facsimile function, and the printer
function) included in the main body 10 are operated and displayed.

[0048] In addition, the software of the OS layer 33 of the main body 10
and the software of the OS layer 37 of the operation unit 20 are
different from each other due to independency of the functions as
described above. In other words, the main body 10 and the operation unit
20 are operated independently of each other by separate OSs. For example,
Linux (registered trademark) may be used as the software of the OS layer
33 of the main body 10, and Android (registered trademark) may be used as
the software of the OS layer 37 of the operation unit 20.

[0049] As described above, since the MFP 1 is configured to operate the
main body 10 and the operation unit 20 using the separate OSs, the
communication between the main body 10 and the operation unit 20 is
performed as communication between different apparatuses not between
processes in a common apparatus. An operation (command transmission) that
the operation unit 20 transfers the received input (an instruction from
the operator) to the main body 10, or an operation that the main body 10
informs the operation unit 20 of an event corresponds to the above
communication. Herein, the operation unit 20 can use the function of the
main body 10 by performing the command transmission to the main body 10.
Further, examples of the event to be informed from the main body 10 to
the operation unit 20 include an execution state of the operation in the
main body 10 and a setting content of the main body 10.

[0050] In addition, in this example, an OS (for example, Linux (registered
trademark)) installed in the main body 10 may be referred to as "a first
operating system", and an OS (for example, Android (registered
trademark)) installed in the operation unit 20 may referred to as "a
second operating system".

[0051] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional
configuration of an operation unit 20. For the convenience of
explanation, FIG. 3 mainly illustrates the functions according to the
invention, but the functions of the operation unit 20 are not limited
thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the operation unit 20 includes a
detector 41, a first display controller 42, an execution controller 43,
and a second display controller 44. From a different point of view, the
programs (for example, the setting widget program and various types of
APs) stored in the ROM 22 of the operation unit 20 can be considered to
cause the CPU 21 to operate as the detector 41, the first display
controller 42, the execution controller 43, and the second display
controller 44. In addition, in this example, the detector 41, the first
display controller 42, the execution controller 43, and the second
display controller 44 will be described to be realized as software
functions, but some or all of them may be realized in hardware.

[0052] The detector 41 makes communication with various types of
applications stored in the ROM 12 through the CPU 11 of the main body 10,
for example, at a predetermined interval such as 10 seconds or 1 minute
and thus detects various setting values which are set in the application
of the main body 10 at that time. Further, the detector 41 stores the
various detected setting values of the application of the main body 10 in
the RAM 23 or the flash memory 24 for example as various setting values
of the application of the operation unit 20. Therefore, various setting
values which are set in the application of the main body 10 are reflected
as various setting values of the application of the operation unit 20.

[0053] For the various types of applications (the respective functions of
a plurality of types which can be performed by the main body 10), the
first display controller 42 displays a setting widget which includes the
respective setting buttons to display the various setting values
reflected on the application of the operation unit 20 by the detector 41
and a start button to issue an execution command for the function
provided by the application to be performed in the home screen. From a
different point of view, each of the various types of applications may be
considered such that the first display controller 42 provides the start
button used to instruct the execution command for the function provided
by the application in the home screen displayed in the operating panel 27
immediately after the MFP 1 is powered up. Further, the above-described
setting buttons include buttons which display various setting values at
that time and are used to display the setting screen of setting items
corresponding to the setting values.

[0054] When the start button is pressed, the execution controller 43
causes the main body 10 to perform a function corresponding to the start
button (the pressed start button) which is pressed. For example, in a
case where the start button disposed in the setting widget corresponding
to the copy application is pressed, the copy function is performed by the
main body 10. More specifically, when it is detected that the start
button disposed in the setting widget corresponding to the copy
application is pressed, the CPU 21 requests a copy operation of the main
body 10 (the engine unit 17). Therefore, the main body 10 (the engine
unit 17) is configured to perform (start) a copy operation in the current
setting values.

[0055] When the setting button is pressed, the second display controller
44 displays the setting screen corresponding to the pressed setting
button on the operating panel 27.

[0056] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the home screen which is displayed
on the operating panel 27. Herein, the description will be made about an
example in which a setting widget 50 corresponding to the copy function
is disposed on the home screen. Further, FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged
view of the setting widget 50. The setting widget 50 illustrated in FIGS.
4 and 5 displays first to fourth setting buttons 51 to 54, an output
result icon 64 which displays an output result using an icon, and a start
button 65 which is used to instruct a copy start.

[0057] The first setting button 51 is a button to designate a display mode
of a color setting screen in which a color used in printing is set. In
this example, the first setting button is configured to designate a color
to be used in printing from among "Black & White", "Auto color", and
"Full color" for example. The example of FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates a
state where "Black & White" is set by the operator (user). In this case,
the CPU 21 of the operation unit 20 displays the characters of "Black &
White" on the first setting button 51 of the setting widget 50 according
to the SWP. Therefore, the operator confirms the current setting of
"Black & White" as a color to be used in printing.

[0058] The second setting button 52 is a button to designate a display
mode of the setting screen (a tray setting screen) of a tray from which a
sheet is fed. In this example, the second setting button is configured to
designate a desired setting from among "Automatic sheet feeding", "Bypass
tray", "Tray 1", and "Tray 2" for example. The example of FIGS. 4 and 5
illustrates a state where "Automatic sheet feeding" is set by the
operator. In this case, the CPU 21 of the operation unit 20 displays the
characters of "Automatic" on the second setting button 52 of the setting
widget 50 according to the SWP. Therefore, the operator confirms that the
sheet feeding tray is set to be automatically fed.

[0059] The third setting button 53 is a button to designate a display mode
of a copy number setting screen through which the number of copies is
set. As will be described below, when the copy number setting screen is
designated to be displayed in this example, a ten key indicating "0" to
"9" is displayed. The operator operates the ten key to input a desired
number of copies. The example of FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates a state where
the number of copies is set to "1 copy" by the operator. In this case,
the CPU 21 of the operation unit 20 displays the character of "1" on the
third setting button 53 of the setting widget 50 according to the SWP.
Therefore, the operator confirms a state where the number of copies is
set to "1".

[0060] In addition, the setting arrangement of the color
setting→the tray setting→the setting through a copy number
setting button assigned in the first to third setting buttons 51 to 53 is
made for the operator to naturally setup the printing settings.

[0061] The fourth setting button 54 is a button to designate a display
mode of other setting screens. The CPU 21 of the operation unit 20
displays the characters of "Others" on the fourth setting button 54 of
the setting widget 50 according to the SWP. In the setting widget 50, the
first to third setting buttons 51 to 53 are assigned with the setting
items in a descending order of an update frequency of the settings. In
other words, in the example illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first
setting button 51 is assigned with the setting item of the color setting,
the second setting button 52 to the setting item of the sheet feeding
tray, and the third setting button 53 to the setting item of the number
of copies, respectively. In addition to the first to third setting
buttons 51 to 53, buttons assigned with other setting items may be
displayed. However, in this case, the designation of the setting screens
of the setting items other than the above-mentioned setting items is
performed by pressing the fourth setting button 54.

[0062] The start button 65 is a button to instruct the copy start by the
operator. The CPU 21 of the operation unit 20 displays the characters of
"Start" on the start button 65 of the setting widget 50 according to the
SWP. In this example, the operator confirms the current setting values by
looking at the current setting values displayed in the respective setting
buttons 51 to 53 of the setting widget 50, and performs a press operation
of the start button 65. When the start button 65 is pressed (when it is
detected that the start button 65 is pressed), the CPU 21 requests the
copying operation of the main body 10 (the engine unit 17). Therefore,
the main body 10 (the engine unit 17) is configured to perform the
copying operation in the current setting values.

[0063] In addition, the setting widget 50 of FIGS. 4 and 5 is an example
of a setting widget corresponding to the copy function. Similarly to the
setting widget 50 of the above-mentioned copy function, the setting
widgets corresponding to the other functions such as the scanner
function, the facsimile function, and the printer function are configured
as setting widgets which display the setting buttons indicating the
current setting values and the start button.

[0064] In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the CPU 21 in the
embodiment has been described to display the output result icon 64 in the
setting widget 50 to display the output result as an icon, but the
invention is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6,
the CPU 21 may be configured not to display the output result icon 64 in
the setting widget 50.

[0065] Next, the respective setting screens to be displayed by pressing
the respective buttons 51 to 54 of the setting widget 50 will be
described. First, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary display
of the color setting screen. When the first setting button 51 of the
setting widget 50 is pressed, the CPU 21 of the operation unit 20
displays the color setting screen illustrated in FIG. 7 in the operating
panel 27.

[0066] Specifically, the CPU 21 displays the respective select buttons 61
to 63 of "Black & White", "Auto color", and "Full color" as illustrated
in FIG. 7. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the CPU 21 can also display
the output result icon 64 to display the output result as an icon, and
the start button 65 to instruct the copy start even in the color setting
screen. The operator selects a button corresponding to a desired color
setting from among the respective select buttons 61 to 63. The CPU 21 of
the operation unit 20 informs the CPU 11 of the main body 10 about the
color setting designated through any one of the select buttons 61 to 63.
The CPU 11 of the main body 10 stores the color setting set by the
operator in the ROM 12, the RAM 13, or the HDD 14 through the copy
application stored in the ROM 12. Further, in the example of FIG. 7, when
it is detected that the start button 65 is pressed, the CPU 21 of the
operation unit 20 requests the copy operation of the main body 10 (the
engine unit 17). Therefore, the main body 10 (the engine unit 17) is
configured to perform the copy operation in the current color setting.

[0067] Next, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary display of the
tray setting screen. When the second setting button 52 of the setting
widget 50 is pressed, the CPU 21 of the operation unit 20 displays the
tray setting screen illustrated in FIG. 8 on the operating panel 27.

[0068] Specifically, the CPU 21 displays the respective select buttons 71
to 74 of "Automatic sheet feeding", "Bypass tray", "Tray 1", and "Tray 2"
as illustrated in FIG. 8. The operator selects a button corresponding to
a desired tray from which a sheet is fed or a button corresponding to a
sheet feeding type from among the respective select buttons 71 to 74. The
CPU 21 of the operation unit 20 informs the CPU 11 of the main body 10
about the color setting designated through any one of the select buttons
71 to 74. The CPU 11 of the main body 10 stores the tray setting set by
the operator in the ROM 12, the RAM 13, or the HDD 14 through the copy
application stored in the ROM 12.

[0069] Next, FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary display of the
copy number setting screen to set the number of copies. When the third
setting button 53 of the setting widget 50 is pressed, the CPU 21 of the
operation unit 20 displays the copy number setting screen illustrated in
FIG. 9 in the operating panel 27.

[0070] Specifically, the CPU 21 displays a ten key 81 indicating "0" to
"9" as illustrated in FIG. 9 and a copy number display unit 82 showing
the currently-set number of copies. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 9,
the CPU 21 can display the output result icon 64 to display the output
result as an icon and the start button 65 to instruct the copy start even
on the copy number setting screen. The operator operates the ten key 81
to designate a desired number of copies. The CPU 21 displays the number
of copies designated by operating the ten key 81 in the copy number
display unit 82. Further, the CPU 21 informs the CPU 11 of the main body
10 about the number of copies designated by operating the ten key 81. The
CPU 11 of the main body 10 stores the number of copies designated by the
operator in the ROM 12, the RAM 13, or the HDD 14 through the copy
application stored in the ROM 12. Further, when it is detected that the
start button 65 is pressed, the CPU 21 of the operation unit 20 requests
the copy operation of the main body 10 (the engine unit 17). Therefore,
the main body 10 (the engine unit 17) is configured to perform the copy
operation in the currently-set number of copies.

[0071] Next, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary display of the
setting screen through which the CPU 21 displays other setting items when
the fourth setting button 54 to designate a display mode of the setting
screen of setting items other than the above-mentioned setting items is
pressed. In this case, the CPU 21 of the operation unit 20 displays a
select button to select the other setting items such as a select button
91 of a "Magnification" setting item which is used to designate rates of
magnification and reduction. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the CPU
21 can also display the output result icon 64 to display the output
result as an icon and the start button 65 to instruct the copy start on
the setting screen.

[0072] When the select button 91 or the like is operated to designate the
setting item, the CPU 21 displays the setting screen corresponding to the
designated setting item. The operator inputs a desired setting value
through the setting screen. The CPU 21 informs the CPU 11 of the main
body 10 about the setting value of the setting item which is set by the
operator. The CPU 11 of the main body 10 stores the setting value of the
setting item which is set by the operator in the ROM 12, the RAM 13, or
the HDD 14 through the copy application stored in the ROM 12. Further,
when it is detected that the start button 65 is pressed, the CPU 21 of
the operation unit 20 requests the copy operation of the main body 10
(the engine unit 17). Therefore, the main body 10 (the engine unit 17) is
configured to perform the copy operation in the current setting.

[0073] Next, FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary operation of the MFP 1 until
the copy operation is started after the start button 65 disposed in the
setting widget 50 is pressed. In FIG. 11, an input unit 27a of the
operating panel 27 means the touch detector, and an output unit 27b means
the liquid crystal display unit. Further, the description "CPU (OS)"
shows the operation of the CPU 21 by the OS. Further, the description
"CPU (application)" shows the operation of the CPU 21 by the copy
application. Furthermore, the description "CPU (SWP)" shows the operation
of the CPU 21 by the setting widget program (SWP).

[0074] First, when the start button 65 of the setting widget 50 is pressed
by the operator, the input unit 27a of the operating panel 27 supplies
the detection output of the press to the CPU 21 in Step S1. The CPU 21
receives the detection output of the press, and informs a touch event
indicating the occurrence of the press in Step S2.

[0075] When the touch event is informed, the CPU 21 performs an activation
request for the application (the copy application in this example)
corresponding to the start button 65 pressed by the operator in Step S3,
and informs the press of the start button 65 corresponding to the copy
application in Step S4.

[0076] Next, the CPU 21 performs the activation request of the copy
application in Step S5, and informs the press of the start button 65 in
Step S6. When the activation request of the copy application and the
press of the start button 65 are informed, the CPU 21 activates the copy
application of the activation request. Then, the CPU 21 generates an
initial screen of the activated copy application in Step S7, and preforms
a display request for the initial screen corresponding to the copy
application in Step S8. Then, the CPU 21 controls the initial screen of
the display request in Step S9 to be displayed on the output unit 27b of
the operating panel 27. Therefore, for example, the initial screen
illustrated in FIG. 12 is displayed on the output unit 27b. In the
example of FIG. 12, the CPU 21 displays a color setting button 101, a
tray setting button 102, a copy number setting button 103, a display
designation button 104 for other setting items, an output result icon
105, a start button 106, and a reset button 107 on the initial screen.

[0077] In Step S10, when the initial screen as described above is
displayed, the CPU 21 checks whether the copy operation can be performed
(whether the operation can be started). Then, in Step S11, the CPU 21
requests the copy operation of the main body 10 in the current setting
values. In Step S12, the main body 10 (the engine unit 17) which accepts
the request starts the copy operation. Then, in Step S13, the main body
10 (the engine unit 17) informs the CPU 21 of the operation unit 20 about
that the copy operation is started. In Step S14, the CPU 21 informed of
the startup from the main body 10 generates a copy progress screen which
shows that the copy is in progress, and performs a display request for
the copy progress screen in Step S15. Then, in Step S16, the CPU 21
controls the copy progress screen of the display request to be displayed
on the output unit 27b of the operating panel 27.

[0078] In addition, for example, in a case where the operation unit 20
previously stores a plurality of sets showing combinations of values
which are set for the respective setting buttons (the first to third
setting buttons 51 to 53 in this example) in the application (the copy
application in this example), as illustrated in FIG. 13, the CPU 21 of
the operation unit 20 can also simultaneously display a plurality of
setting widgets (three setting widgets 50a, 50b, and 50c corresponding to
three sets in a one-to-one manner in the example of FIG. 13) which
correspond to the plurality of predetermined sets in a one-to-one manner.
In this case, when the user touches the setting widget 50 to which a
desired value is set, the CPU 21 displays the setting widget 50 to the
forefront. Then, when the start button 65 is pressed by the user, the CPU
21 requests the execution of the function (the copy operation in the
example of FIG. 13) corresponding to the setting widget 50 from the main
body 10 according to the setting values of the respective setting buttons
of the setting widget 50 displayed to the forefront.

[0079] As described above, in the embodiment, the start buttons which are
used to instruct the execution command of the function provided by the
application are disposed in each of various types of applications on the
home screen displayed on the operating panel 27. Then, when the start
button is pressed, the execution of a function corresponding to the
pressed start button is started. In other words, in the embodiment, the
user can instruct various types of functions which can be executed by the
MFP 1 through the home screen. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a
beneficial effect of an improvement in operational efficiency for the
user.

Program

[0080] A program executed in the MFP 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment
may be provided using a computer-readable storage medium such as a
CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a digital versatile disk (DVD), and
a universal serial bus (USB) with a file in an installable or executable
format recorded therein. Otherwise, the program may be configured to be
provided or distributed through a network such as the Internet. Further,
the program may be configured to be provided using a ROM or the like with
various types of programs embedded therein in advance.

[0081] According to the embodiment, it is possible to improve operational
efficiency when a user instructs an execution of a function realizable in
a device.

[0082] Although the invention has been described with respect to specific
embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are
not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all
modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled
in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.